Downward trends in case loads and deaths caused public health officials to say Wednesday that they think the region’s flu season is in decline.

County health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten issued a statement noting that weekly data reported by local hospitals and doctors offices appear to show that infection rates peaked about three weeks ago.

“Influenza can be unpredictable, but after two weeks of declines in the number of lab-confirmed cases, it appears flu activity has peaked this season,” Wooten said.

The county reported six flu-related deaths, three fewer than were reported the previous week.

Confirmed flu cases were also in decline, with 297 reported this week compared with 464 last week, a 35 percent week-over-week decline. The percentage of emergency room patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms also dropped from 10 percent to 8 percent.

This season the H1N1 “swine flu” strain is dominant. It’s the same strain that caused a pandemic, and inundated hospital emergency rooms, in 2009.

Though the strain is the same, there is one big difference that appears to have kept H1N1 from getting as out of hand this year as it did in 2009: This year there is a vaccine that works.

In 2009, the swine flu was new and vaccines didn’t match. With no effective vaccine available, emergency rooms reported flu-symptom levels reaching 17 percent in 2009. This year, by comparison, the number topped out at 11 percent.

But many people still have gotten sick this year. H1N1 tends to hit a younger demographic than other flu types and this year local hospitals have reported heavy strain on their intensive care units as many are admitted with severe cases of pneumonia that require a ventilator to maintain breathing.

While the trends show a shrinking number of cases, Wooten said those who remain unvaccinated should still consider getting a shot.

“The flu season typically lasts through March and early April, so people should continue taking preventive measures,” Wooten said.